This presentation discusses the following topics: Meaning of Hypothesis Sources of Hypothesis Variables in hypotheses Need for Hypothesis Characteristics of Hypothesis Functions of Hypothesis Hypothesis vs. Theory Variables in Hypothesis Types of Hypothesis Developing a Hypothesis Parameters of Hypothesis Checklist for Hypothesis Examples

1. Basics of RESEARCH
Dr. C.V. Suresh Babu
(CentreforKnowledgeTransfer)
institute

2. Discussion Topics • Meaning of Hypothesis
• Sources of Hypothesis
• Variables in hypotheses
• Need for Hypothesis
• Characteristics of Hypothesis
• Functions of Hypothesis
• Hypothesis vs. Theory
• Variables in Hypothesis
• Types of Hypothesis
• Developing a Hypothesis
• Parameters of Hypothesis
• Checklist for Hypothesis
• Examples

3. Meaning
• Hypothesis is an assumption that is made on the basis of some evidence
• A hypothesis is not just a guess — it should be based on existing
theories and knowledge.
• A hypothesis states your predictions about what your research will find.
• It is a tentative answer to your research question that has not yet been
tested.
• It also has to be testable, which means you can prove or disprove it
through scientific research methods (such as experiments, observations
and statistical analysis of data).

4. Examples
• If you get at least 6 hours of sleep, you will do better on tests than if you
get less sleep.
• If you drop a ball, it will fall toward the ground.
• If you drink coffee before going to bed, then it will take longer to fall
asleep.
• Drinking sugary drinks daily leads to obesity.
• Smoking cigarettes daily leads to lung cancer.
• All lilies have the same number of petals is an example of a null
hypothesis

5. Sources of Hypothesis
Following are the sources of hypothesis:
• The resemblance between the phenomenon.
• Observations from past studies, present-day experiences and
from the competitors.
• Scientific theories.
• General patterns that influence the thinking process of people.

6. Need for Hypothesis
• A hypothesis is a stepping stone to a soon-to-be proven theory.
For a hypothesis to be considered a scientific hypothesis, it
must be proven through the scientific method. Like anything
else in life, there are many paths to take to get to the same
ending.

7. Characteristics
Following are the characteristics of hypothesis:
• The hypothesis should be clear and precise to consider it to be reliable.
• If the hypothesis is a relational hypothesis, then it should be stating the
relationship between variables.
• The hypothesis must be specific and should have scope for conducting
more tests.
• The way of explanation of the hypothesis must be very simple and it
should also be understood that the simplicity of the hypothesis is not
related to its significance.

8. Functions of Hypothesis
Following are the functions performed by the hypothesis:
• Hypothesis helps in making an observation and
experiments possible.
• It becomes the start point for the investigation.
• Hypothesis helps in verifying the observations.
• It helps in directing the inquiries in the right directions.

9. Hypothesis vs. Theory
• A theory, in contrast, is a principle that has been formed as an
attempt to explain things that have already been substantiated
by data. It is used in the names of a number of principles
accepted in the scientific community, such as the Big Bang
Theory. Because of the rigors of experimentation and control,
it is understood to be more likely to be true than a hypothesis
is.

10. Variables in hypotheses
Hypotheses propose a relationship between two or more variables.
1. An independent variable is something the researcher changes or
controls.
2. A dependent variable is something the researcher observes and
measures.
Example
Daily apple consumption leads to fewer doctor’s visits.
– the independent variable is apple consumption — the assumed cause.
– The dependent variable is the frequency of doctor’s visits — the assumed effect.

11. Complex hypothesis
A complex hypothesis has a relationship between variables. However, it’s a relationship
between two or more independent variables and two or more dependent variables.

12. Complex Examples #1
Overweight adults who
1. Value longevity and
2. Seek happiness are more likely than other adults to
i. lose their excess weight and
ii. feel a more regular sense of joy

13. Complex Examples #2
Overweight individuals who
1. Eat greasy foods and
2. Eat few vegetables are more likely to have
i. high cholesterol and
ii. heart disease.

14. Complex Examples #3
Individuals that
1. smoke cigarettes and
2. live in cities are more likely than others to have
i. respiratory problems and
ii. increased cancer.

15. Types
The most common forms of hypotheses are:
• Simple Hypothesis
• Complex Hypothesis
• Empirical Hypothesis
• Null Hypothesis (Denoted by "HO")
• Alternative Hypothesis (Denoted by "H1")
• Logical Hypothesis
• Statistical Hypothesis
• Associative and Causal Hypothesis
• Directional Hypothesis
• Non Directional Hypothesis

16. Null Hypothesis
• A null hypothesis (H0) exists when a researcher believes there
is no relationship between the two variables or a lack of
information to state a scientific hypothesis.
• This is something to attempt to disprove or discredit.

17. Null Hypothesis Examples
• There is no significant change in my health during the times
when I drink green tea only or root beer only.
• There is no significant change in my work habits when I get 8
and when I get 9 hours of sleep.
• There is no significant change in the growth of a plant if I use
distilled water only or vitamin-rich water.

18. Alternative Hypothesis
• In an attempt to disprove a null hypothesis, researchers will
seek to discover an alternative hypothesis.

19. Alternative Hypothesis Examples
• My health improves during the times when I drink green tea
only, as opposed to root beer only.
• My work habits improve during the times when I get 8 hours of
sleep only, as opposed to 9 hours of sleep only.
• The growth of the plant improved during the times when I use
vitamin-rich water only, as opposed to distilled water only.

20. Logical Hypothesis
• A logical hypothesis is a proposed explanation possessing
limited evidence. Generally, you want to turn a logical
hypothesis into an empirical hypothesis, putting your theories
or postulations to the test

21. Logical Hypothesis Examples
• Cacti experience more successful growth rates than tulips on
Mars. (Until we're able to test plant growth in Mars' ground for
an extended period of time, the evidence for this claim will be
limited and the hypothesis will only remain logical.)
• Beings from Mars would not be able to breathe the air in the
atmosphere of the Earth.
• Creatures found in the bottom of the ocean use aerobic
respiration rather than anaerobic respiration.

22. Empirical Hypothesis
• An empirical hypothesis, or working hypothesis, comes to life
when a theory is being put to the test, using observation and
experiment. It's no longer just an idea or notion. It's going
through some trial and error and perhaps changing around
those independent variables.

23. Empirical Hypothesis Examples
• Roses watered with liquid Vitamin B grow faster than roses
watered with liquid Vitamin E. (Here, trial and error is leading
to a series of findings.)
• Women taking vitamin E grow hair faster than those taking
vitamin K.
• Thirsty rats find their way through a maze quicker if there is
water at the end of the maze.

24. Statistical Hypothesis
• A statistical hypothesis is an examination of a portion of a
population or statistical model. In this type of analysis, you use
statistical information from an area.

25. Statistical Hypothesis Examples
For example, if you wanted to conduct a study on the life expectancy of
Indians, you would want to examine every single resident of Indian. This is
not practical. Therefore, you would conduct your research using a
statistical hypothesis or a sample of the Indian population.
• 30% of the Indian population lives beyond the age of 70.
• 20% of the Indian population get a divorce because of incompatible
differences.
• 45% of the poor in the India are illiterate.

26. Associative and Causal Hypothesis
• Associative hypothesis occurs when there is a change in one
variable resulting in a change in the other variable. Whereas,
causal hypothesis proposes a cause and effect interaction
between two or more variables.

27. Directional Hypothesis
• It shows how a researcher is intellectual and committed to a
particular outcome.
• The relationship between the variables can also predict its
nature. For example- children aged four years eating proper
food over a five-year period are having higher IQ levels than
children not having a proper meal. This shows the effect and
direction of effect.

28. Directional Hypothesis Example
• Children aged four years eating proper food over a five-year
period are having higher IQ levels than children not having a
proper meal.
• This shows the effect and direction of effect.

29. Non-directional Hypothesis
• It is used when there is no theory involved.
• It is a statement that a relationship exists between two
variables, without predicting the exact nature (direction) of the
relationship.

30. Non-directional Hypothesis Example
• A researcher might hypothesize that college students will
perform differently from elementary school students on a
memory task without predicting which group of students will
perform better.
• Also called nondirectional alternative hypothesis; two-tailed
(alternative) hypothesis.

31. Developing a hypothesis
1. Ask a question
• Writing a hypothesis begins with a research question that you
want to answer. The question should be focused, specific, and
researchable within the constraints of your project.
• Do students who attend more lectures get better exam results?

32. Developing a hypothesis
2. Do some preliminary research
• Your initial answer to the question should be based on what is
already known about the topic. Look for theories and previous
studies to help you form educated assumptions about what
your research will find.
• At this stage, you might construct a conceptual framework to
identify which variables you will study and what you think the
relationships are between them.

33. Developing a hypothesis
3. Formulate your hypothesis
• Now you should have some idea of what you expect to find.
Write your initial answer to the question in a clear, concise
sentence.
• Attending more lectures leads to better exam results.

34. Developing a hypothesis
4. Refine your hypothesis
• You need to make sure your hypothesis is specific and testable.
There are various ways of phrasing a hypothesis, but all the
terms you use should have clear definitions, and the
hypothesis should contain:
• The relevant variables
• The specific group being studied
• The predicted outcome of the experiment or analysis

35. Developing a hypothesis
5. Phrase your hypothesis in three ways
• To identify the variables, you can write a simple prediction in if…then form. The first part of the
sentence states the independent variable and the second part states the dependent variable.
• If a first-year student starts attending more lectures, then their exam scores will improve.
• In academic research, hypotheses are more commonly phrased in terms of correlations or effects,
where you directly state the predicted relationship between variables.
• The number of lectures attended by first-year students has a positive effect on their exam scores.
• If you are comparing two groups, the hypothesis can state what difference you expect to find
between them.
• First-year students who attended most lectures will have better exam scores than those who
attended few lectures.

36. Developing a hypothesis
6. Write a null hypothesis
• If your research involves statistical hypothesis testing, you will also have
to write a null hypothesis. The null hypothesis is the default position
that there is no association between the variables. The null hypothesis
is written as H0, while the alternative hypothesis is H1 or Ha.
• H0: The number of lectures attended by first-year students has no effect
on their final exam scores.
H1: The number of lectures attended by first-year students has a
positive effect on their final exam scores.

37. Hypothesis Checklist
Here are some important questions to ask:
Is the language clear and focused?
Does the hypothesis introduce the research topic?
Does the hypothesis include both an independent and
dependent variable? Are they easy to identify?
Can the hypothesis be tested through experimentation?
Does the hypothesis explain what you expect to happen during
your experiment?

38. Parameters of a Good Hypothesis
Step 1: Ask Yourself Questions
• Define the independent and dependent variables very specifically, and
don't take on more than you can handle.
• Keep yourself laser-focused on one specific cause-and-effect theory.

39. Parameters of a Good Hypothesis
Step 2: Be Logical and Use Precise Language
• Keep your language clean and simple.
• State your hypothesis as concisely, and to the point, as possible.
• A hypothesis is usually written in a form where it proposes that, if
something is done, then something else will occur.
• Usually, you don't want to state a hypothesis as a question.
• You believe in something, and you're seeking to prove it.
• For example: If I raise the temperature of a cup of water, then the
amount of sugar that can be dissolved in it will be increased.

40. Parameters of a Good Hypothesis
Step 3: Make Sure Your Hypothesis Is Testable
• Any hypothesis will need proof.
• Your audience will have to see evidence and reason to believe your
statement.
• For example, I may want to drink root beer all day, not green tea. If
you're going to make me change my ways, I need some sound reasoning
and experimental proof — perhaps case studies of others who lost
weight, cleared up their skin and had a marked improvement in their
immunity by drinking green tea.

41. Research question Hypothesis Null hypothesis
What are the health benefits
of eating an apple a day?
Increasing apple consumption in over-60s
will result in decreasing frequency of
doctor’s visits.
Increasing apple consumption in over-
60s will have no effect on frequency of
doctor’s visits.
Which airlines have the most
delays?
Low-cost airlines are more likely to have
delays than premium airlines.
Low-cost and premium airlines are
equally likely to have delays.
Can flexible work
arrangements improve job
satisfaction?
Employees who have flexible working hours
will report greater job satisfaction than
employees who work fixed hours.
There is no relationship between
working hour flexibility and job
satisfaction.
How effective is high school
sex education at reducing
teen pregnancies?
Teenagers who received sex education
lessons throughout high school will have
lower rates of unplanned pregnancy than
teenagers who did not receive any sex
education.
High school sex education has no
effect on teen pregnancy rates.
What effect does daily use of
social media have on the
attention span of under-16s?
There is a negative correlation between time
spent on social media and attention span in
under-16s.
There is no relationship between
social media use and attention span in
under-16s.